Prosecution Calls Medical Examiner Appointed by Zimmerman State Attorney

On Tuesday, the prosecution called medical examiner Dr. Valerie Rao, chief medical examiner for Seminole, Volusia and Flagler counties. The state did not, however, call the pathologist in Daytona Beach who did the autopsy on Trayvon Martin.

Rao testified that Zimmerman’s injuries were not life-threatening. She said that his injuries on his head were consistent with his head hitting concrete once, but she would not characterize them with being consistent with his head being slammed repeatedly to concrete. She said that all of the injuries could have come from a single punch or blow.

Rao was asked whether the injuries could be consistent with repeated punches to the head, as Zimmerman told Sean Hannity on Fox News. She said yes, if some punches caused little or no injury.

The defense asked Rao if she was appointed to her position by Angela Corey, the prosecutor who decided to take up the case. She answered in the affirmative. The defense asked whether Rao did any work on Trayvon Martin’s medical records. She answered no. She said that the medical evidence was consistent with at least three impacts between Zimmerman’s head and concrete.

The defense asked Rao about the abrasions on Martin’s hands. She testified they were consistent with striking someone. She testified there were no other injuries on Martin other than the gunshot wound, and she said there were no injuries consistent with trauma that took place on cement.